Improved material foe stuffing matteesses, ahd pojtt other pueposes



Quint 1am 125mm @ffint.

H. R. HILDRETH AND W. H. SMITH, OF DUTCH FLAT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO H. R. I-IILDRETH, GEORGE B. HOBBS, AND JOHN DIBBLEE, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 61,194, dated January 15, 1867.

IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR STUFFING MATTRESSES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, H. R. HILDRETH and W. H. SMITH, of Dutch Flat, lz'lacer county, State of California, have invented an improved and new Substitute for Curled Hair; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a new and improved substitute for the ordinary and common curled hair, so called, used for the stutling of the backs and seats of chairs, sofas, lounges, mattresses, &c., and it consists in sotreating the fibre of the soap-plant, so known, as to convert or manufacture it into the proper form for being used as a. substitute for the'common' curled hair as a stufiing for mattresses, the seats and backs of lounges, sofas, chairs, &c. 'The manner in which the soap-plant is treated under the present invention for the'purpose above stated is as follows The plant is first separated into its fibres by means of a picker or any other suitable device, after which it is boiled for two hours, or more or less, according as maybe necessary, in a solution of forty ounces of potash to twenty gallons of water for every twenty pounds of the fibre. The fibre is then washed in clear cold water, and being dried, is spun or twisted into the shape of a rope or cord, when, being steamed for one hour, it is again dried and picked by hand, when it is ready for use. In lieu of using potash, other alkalies may be employed, such as leached ashes, salts of tartar, 850.; so we do not intend to limit ourselves to any one particular kind of alkali, although potash has been found to answer the purpose. It may be here remarked, in conclusion, that the fibre of soap-plant, treated in the manner above described, is exceedingly elastic, and durable, and in every respect equal to, and muchcheaper than, the ordinary curled hair.

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As a new article of manufacture and as a substitute for the ordinary curled hair, the fibre of thesoapplant, when properly treated and manipulated therefor.

2. Treating the fibre of the soap-plant substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.

H. R. HIL'DRETH, WM. H. SMITH.

strong,

Witnesses:

W. D. HARRIMAN, H. W. NELsoN. 

